Chapter Two: Mapping the Path Ahead

The vampire subject soon began to mutate. The muscle tissue in his body started to break down, twitching unnaturally as his entire frame was dismantled and reshaped like clay. While the surface showed no gruesome changes, the interior had become something entirely different.

Lynn was not idle. Pale purple energy began to emanate from his head—a special ability distinct from the mysterious knowledge that had appeared in his mind. Indeed, Lynn was a mutant, though this power had clearly only manifested after he transmigrated. After all, his memories contained no record of him ever possessing superpowers.

The purple light seeped into the surrounding equipment. Soon, the machinery whirred to life; keyboards were struck by invisible fingers, and tiny artificial cilia in the culture tank began to sway, crawling across the vampire’s body. In fact, sixty percent of this makeshift laboratory’s operation relied on Lynn’s ability. He could not afford the precision equipment required for high-level biochemical modification, but his powers compensated for the primitive gear, allowing him to perform the work of three or four seasoned researchers alone.

Lynn sat in his chair, fingers pressed to his temples, watching the vampire transform. Through chemical and physical means, he was crafting a bio-engineered creation from his memories.

Soon, the transformation was complete. The body, modified by dark magic, finally withstood the warping effects that were essentially indistinguishable from sorcery. The vampires Lynn had purchased from Blade had been reduced to simple biomass and stored in his freezer. Lynn felt no remorse; most of these vampires were criminals with blood on their hands, especially those Blade had rounded up from local gangs.

Seeing the success in the culture tank, Lynn nodded in satisfaction. "The accumulated techniques can be applied elsewhere... perhaps it’s time for a career change." Selling fried chicken was clearly not his ultimate goal, and the shop was inconvenient. He needed a safer place.

The liquid in the tank began to drain, and the cilia and injection tubes were retracted. Once the fluid was gone, the vampire seemed to regain consciousness. He stood naked before Lynn, motionless. Lynn flicked a finger, and the vampire’s eyelids fluttered. His muscles twitched, replacing his previous sickly, withered look with a more robust build.

A second later, he opened his eyes. They were filled only with confusion and dullness.

"Hmm... the memory adjustment was successful as well." Lynn stroked his chin, evaluating his capabilities. Knowledge and power—these were essential for survival in this city. His ability was versatile, extending far beyond telekinesis. Mind control was another facet. Lynn wasn't sure of the extent of his strength, but controlling this modified vampire seemed effortless.

With a thought, Lynn completed the brainwashing and released the vampire’s consciousness. The creature began to struggle in agony, as if something were tearing its way out from within. Within seconds, the metamorphosis was finished. A massive beast stood before Lynn, covered in thick fur with hulking muscles, a fierce, beast-like face, and elongated, oversized ears.

"Like a giant, hairy vampire. The Ramochas-type modification is perfect; it truly has the highest success rate."

Though the experiment was a success, Lynn felt no great excitement. In this bizarre world, a zoanoid was hardly a significant combat force. He hungered for something else, but his creations required more capital and rarer resources—tasks he could not currently undertake.

"Still, this is enough for now."

Lynn tossed a steel pipe to the Ramochas, which caught it and, at Lynn's gesture, snapped the pipe in two as if it were a popsicle.

"I wonder how it handles in actual combat..." Lynn observed. With his first zoanoid, he could finally put some ideas into practice. He didn't want to expose his powers or step into the spotlight, even if he suspected he was stronger than most mutants. It was best not to put himself in danger; if he had subordinates, let them do the work.

Easing his mental grip, the vampire regained his awareness. He knelt submissively on the ground and said, "Boss Sidis."

The mind control was nearly perfect. The vampire retained his original memories and personality but had become Lynn’s puppet. Unless he encountered someone equally skilled in telepathy, it would be impossible for him to break free from the control of Lynn’s psychic power.

Lynn tossed him some clothes left behind by the unfortunate souls Blade had brought. "Put these on and come up. We’re going out. Also, from today on, your name is Tom."

After sending the command to Tom via telepathy, Lynn set off. He had no intention of rotting away in a chicken shop. New York was more complex than he imagined, with various intertwined factions. Finding specific people would be difficult, but now that he had a small chip to play, "Taking the initiative is clearly the better choice."

Having just seen Peter Parker and Blade, Lynn wasn't sure how the plot would unfold. "Spider-Man’s style is rather eccentric; it’s exactly as I remember." Lynn raised the shop’s shutter and muttered, "Maybe this is the Ultimate Universe. Even though the Fantastic Four’s building hasn't exploded yet, you never know..."

***

What was the fastest way to make money? Certainly not working an honest job. Lynn didn't have much left after paying off the loans for his equipment.

The streets of New York were empty at night, especially in his Brooklyn neighborhood, where the crime rate was notorious.

"Go earn some extra cash. Find some gang members. You know what I mean?" Lynn said to Tom outside the shop.

"I understand, boss."

"Good. Here is the seed money. Go to a convenience store and buy a pair of pantyhose to wear over your head."

With that, Lynn let Tom go. A high crime rate had its advantages; it was a quick way to get starting capital. He was done with selling fried chicken. "Maybe becoming a high school teacher would be a decent cover for now?"

He quickly devised a plan, checked his navigation, and returned to the shop to get some sleep. Early the next morning, with the money Tom had "collected" the night before, Lynn headed to Hell's Kitchen. After ducking into a few alleys and visiting some questionable businesses, he obtained a set of forged documents from a man claiming to be a "Kingpin associate."

A degree, a diploma, and a full set of certifications.

"Say, buddy, you getting these things to pick up girls?"

"Hmm?" Lynn looked at the old man who sold him the forgeries. "Something like that. But are these reliable? I've never even heard of these universities."

"Guaranteed, don't worry. They're respectable universities."

Lynn tucked the papers away and left the inconspicuous shop. Just as he stepped out, he bumped into someone.

"Sorry, I didn't see you."

"It's fine, my fault." The man was polite, but Lynn noticed he was blind.

"Matt, you're late."

Lynn glanced at the corner to see several metal mops, heavy and cumbersome, then looked at the blind man. Not wanting to get involved, he walked away. Once out of Hell's Kitchen, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to get tangled up in that place; there were too many eyes watching there.

"Boss, where to next?"

"To an interview."

"Huh? We're closing the chicken shop?"

Lynn looked back at Tom. The guy talked too much. Feeling the pressure, Tom shut his mouth and didn't utter another word.

At the school, it was the start of the semester. High school students were filing in with their backpacks, a youthful atmosphere that was disarming. Lynn walked across the playground to the main building, drawing curious glances from students, including Tom, who followed behind. Interestingly, after Lynn’s modifications, Tom could walk in the daylight, as if the influence of the Darkhold had been temporarily neutralized. Tom seemed to miss the daylight, but Lynn didn't care. He had more important things to do.

"Go wander around, and don't cause any trouble."

Ordering Tom via telepathy, Lynn went to the administrative office. An hour later, he sat smiling before an HR representative who looked troubled.

"So, your..." The interviewer looked at the resume and the forged documents. Just as he was about to speak, a thread of purple psionic energy drilled into his ear. After a moment of confusion, the interviewer said, "Welcome to Midtown High, sir. When would you like to officially start?"

"How about next Monday? I’d like to look around first."

"Monday is a perfect choice. Do you need a guide?"

"No, I prefer to walk around on my own."

Midtown High seemed unremarkable. There were renovated classrooms, science labs, and a gym. Students were playing football on the field—everything was peaceful. But Lynn didn't think so. "I’m afraid it won’t stay quiet for long."

"Hey, hello! Are you a new teacher? I don't think I've seen you before."

Lynn turned slightly. A girl with red hair caught his eye. Her shoulder-length hair made her look mature, and her emerald-green eyes held a soft, yet intimidating allure that added a level of sophistication beyond her high school years.

"Not quite a teacher yet, Ms. Watson."

Mary Jane seemed surprised that Lynn knew her name, as she wasn't exactly a celebrity at school.

"Uh, thanks. But I don't know your name yet."

"Just call me Lynn, Ms. Watson."

Lynn shook her hand, noticing two handsome boys approaching behind her. He could guess who they were: Peter and Harry. They were still close friends. Lynn watched Peter, stroking his chin. "A Garfield-type handsome spider."

As Spider-Man, Peter had seen Lynn before, but he couldn't show it now. Lynn noticed Peter's brow twitching; he seemed worried about Mary Jane talking to Lynn, especially since the chicken shop owner looked quite handsome when not wearing a greasy apron.

"Very protective. Hard to imagine this guy will be a player later."

Lynn didn't intend to chat with Peter Parker yet. He waved at Peter and Harry and stood up to leave. "Good luck becoming a great reporter, Ms. Watson."

Notifying Tom via telepathy that it was time to leave, Lynn knew this school would see plenty of misfortune in the future.

"MJ, who was that?" Harry asked first.

"Hmm? A new teacher? Maybe?"

"That’s rare. Midtown High having a new teacher."

"Yeah, even Mr. Mark, the youngest, is fifty. Sometimes I’m afraid he’ll bump his pinky on the podium," Peter added.

"By the way, how is Uncle Ben? You two have been having some trouble lately, but if you talk it out, you can solve it. Peter, keeping things bottled up isn't the answer."

"Hey, MJ, we're fine. Don't worry about it."

"If you don't mind, we should get to class. It's about to start," Harry reminded them. The three hurried off toward the classroom.

Lynn had already left. He needed to collect intelligence. He wasn't the center of the vortex, so he needed to get close to it, or let the vortex come to him. Midtown High was a perfect choice. He headed to the archives, put the clerk to sleep, and walked inside. Since there were no cameras, Lynn had no qualms.

"Not a single computer..." He rubbed his temples in frustration. "Need a different approach."

He went to the infirmary instead. As expected, there was a computer. The screen’s light reflected on his face as he spotted a familiar name: Jessica Jones. Checking the school nurse’s records, he found she hadn't been to school in three weeks.

"Didn't she become a superpowered person after a car crash?" He frowned as he read the nurse's notes: *The young girl seems to have mental issues. She says someone is stalking her. Recommend a professional psychologist. She’s only in high school...*

Recalling the story, Jessica Jones wouldn't encounter the disaster that changed her life until after she was older. "I'll go check. Where does she live? 31 Birch Street, Maple Avenue, Queens..."

Having collected the necessary information, Lynn walked out of the infirmary. The New York sky was still blue. Lynn returned to his chicken shop. The story had to progress, but the chicken still needed to be fried—though today, Lynn wasn't doing the frying; he was just collecting the money.

Tom was busy with the chicken while Lynn watched the news on his smartphone. Nothing special—perhaps the most notable news was that Tony Stark had hooked up with a few more actresses. Stark didn't seem to have any intention of going to the Middle East for a press conference.

"He seems to be getting along quite well with Obadiah."